Downtown Vernon Proposes Solution to loss of Parking at Kal Tire Place

Downtown Vernon Proposes Solution to loss of Parking at Kal Tire Place

Posted on Apr 1, 2017

Press Release – April 1st, 2017

Downtown Vernon Proposes Solution to loss of Parking at Kal Tire Place

The Downtown Vernon Association is urging Vernon City Council to develop a light-rail line to connect Kal Tire Place to the Downtown Vernon Parkade, saying it will alleviate concerns over the reduced parking spaces with the twinning of Kal Tire Place.

Recently, Vernon City Council approved a variance to decrease the number of proposed parking stalls at Kal Tire Place from 917 to 658. The Downtown Vernon Parkade has 186 parking spaces, plus the over 800 on-street parking spaces in the downtown could more than accommodate the loss of parking spaces at Kal Tire Place.

The DVA infrastructure committee, recently motioned to lobby Vernon City Council to approve the construction of Vernon’s first light-rail line, to connect the updated facility to the downtown core. "We’re sending a strong message that we will have a strong downtown with the light-rail transportation link," said DVA Infrastructure Committee Chair Chandler Bing. “It will encourage more business in the downtown for pre-event shopping or to visit restaurants after a hockey game.”

Another committee member, Arthur Fonzarelli, said there will be some technical challenges that need to be overcome to connect a light-rail line to the downtown, but the benefits of the connection will be undeniable. “We see this as only the beginning to an integrated light-rail transit system for Vernon” says Fonzarelli, “Our businesses would see immense benefits from this link, we also see future potential for a second line connecting the downtown to Okanagan College.”

When asked why Vernon needs this type of transit system when larger communities such as Kamloops or Kelowna don’t have one yet, Bing commented “It would be nice for Vernon to get something before Kelowna does for once.”